Singer Peter Okoye of the defunct music duo P-Square has told a Federal High Court in Lagos that he received more than $800,000 in royalties from French music rights organisation SACEM for songs recorded by the group, but did not remit any portion of the money to his elder brother, Jude Okoye.
Peter made the disclosure while testifying virtually before Justice Alexander Owoeye during cross-examination by Clement Onwuewunor, SAN, counsel to Jude.
SACEM is a French organisation responsible for collecting and distributing royalties to songwriters, composers and music publishers.
According to reports from the court proceedings, Peter maintained that the royalties were meant for the performing artists himself and his twin brother, Paul Okoye and disputed Jude's entitlement to the payments.
When asked whether he informed Jude about the payments, Peter reportedly answered that he did not, insisting that “the money was for the artists.”
He also told the court that he had previously paid Jude a quarter of his SACEM earnings but denied that Jude was entitled to continue receiving payments after the brothers' 2022 reconciliation.
During the cross-examination, Peter disputed Jude's role in P-Square and rejected the suggestion that his elder brother was entitled to royalties from the group's recordings.
When asked whether Jude was part of P-Square, Peter reportedly answered: “Jude is not part of P-Square.”
He maintained that he and Paul wrote, composed and produced P-Square's songs, although he acknowledged that Jude directed some of the group's music videos.
Peter also said he had no direct employment contract with Jude, explaining that their managerial arrangement was through Northside Entertainment Limited.
The singer further confirmed that the SACEM payments related to 10 P-Square songs, while acknowledging that the contract with SACEM had been signed by Jude. Peter maintained that the agreement was signed on behalf of “the team” and insisted that Jude was not a member of the team.
The court also heard arguments concerning P-Square's backend royalty records.
Peter had previously claimed that Jude took more than three months to provide the records after he requested them in 2022. Jude's counsel challenged that account, saying the request was made on October 16, 2022, and that the records were provided six days later.
Peter disagreed, insisting that he had made the request earlier in the year. However, when asked to produce a message or other document proving that an earlier request had been made, he said he could not recall having such evidence.
Peter confirmed that the royalty records he received covered payments from 2016 to 2022 and included records relating to Lex Records. He said he had requested the documents partly because some people were interested in acquiring the P-Square music catalogue.
The testimony forms part of the ongoing criminal proceedings involving Jude Okoye and his company, Northside Music Limited.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Jude and the company on a seven-count charge involving allegations of ₦1.3 billion and $1 million fraud.
Jude has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The allegations remain subject to determination by the court and should not be treated as established facts.
The court has adjourned further proceedings until December 8 and 9, 2026.
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